Parish council
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[edit] England
In England parish councils were formed under the Local Government Act 1894 to take over local oversight of social welfare and civic duties in towns and villages. Before this date a variety of groups based around ecclesiastical (church) parishes had responsibility for these matters, in a system of local government that dated back to the feudal system of the 8th century. They are elected bodies, usually on a four year cycle. The number of councillors varies according to the population of the parish.
Parish Councils have the power to precept (tax) their residents to support their operations and to carry out local projects. Although there is no limit to the amount that can be precepted, the money can only be raised for a limited number of purposes, defined in the 1894 Act. Although there are wide variations, Parish Councils tend to be responsible for the provision of such facilites as village halls, recreation grounds and children's play areas. They have a legal right to be consulted and to comment on all planning applications in their areas.
Today, a government policy known as Local Area Management is leading to an increase in the number of parish councils, especially in large towns and cities which have not in the past been "parished". Not every civil parish has a parish council; smaller ones—typically with an electorate under 200—only have parish meetings. Since a change in the law in 1974 many small market towns have Town Councils, whose powers are exactly the same as those of Parish Councils, although their Chairmen are entitled to style themselves as "Mayor."
The civil parish should not be confused with the ecclesiastical parish, where the Church of England's Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) are concerned with the welfare of a particular religious community. Whilst both types of parish have common roots in the old vestry system, the civil parish is not linked to the church.
[edit] Wales
In Wales, a system of community councils operates that is almost identical to the English parish council system.
[edit] Scotland
In Scotland, parishes as subdivisions of administrative counties, had local government bodies called parish councils from 1894 to 1930. Under the Local Government Act 1973, 'community councils', with elected councillors, were established throughout Scotland. They are now the most local level of statutory representation, but they have no statutory powers.
Many community councils have their own Coats of Arms, examples of which can be viewed here.
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